Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his family were reportedly held hostage at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday night by heavily armed soldiers following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The development came shortly after Tinubu invoked Section 180 of the Nigerian Constitution to justify his decision, citing the ongoing political turmoil in the state.
The crisis, largely fueled by a bitter power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, escalated last week when pro-Wike lawmakers initiated impeachment proceedings against the governor.
Sources within the Rivers State Government hinted that troops moved in immediately after Tinubu’s nationwide address, sealing off all entry and exit points to the Government House.
Attempts by Fubara and his family members to vacate the premises were blocked by the soldiers.
“We are being held hostage,” an official inside the Government House reportedly said on Tuesday night. “They said they don’t have instruction to let anyone leave the premises.”
It remained unclear whether the soldiers were strictly following orders or had taken excessive measures in executing their directives.
Efforts to reach the Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters for clarification were unsuccessful as of press time.
Tinubu’s decision to suspend both the governor and the warring state lawmakers for six months sparked outrage on social media, with critics questioning the legality of the move.
Many argued that suspending an elected governor without an impeachment process was unconstitutional.
Legal experts, including human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong and musician-turned-activist Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana, condemned the president’s action, accusing him of overstepping his constitutional limits.
As part of the emergency declaration, Tinubu appointed retired Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as the interim military administrator for the oil-rich state.
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